Winding device for drop-lights.



v c. v. JOHNSON. WINDING DEVICE FOR DROP LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED lUNE II I914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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enrrnn s'rnans PATENT onnren CARL V. JOHNSON, OF GOLDFIELD, NEVADA, ASSIGNOR TO INDISPENSABLE MFG. (30., OF GOLDFIELD, NEVADA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 1, 1914. Serial No. 842,276.

To all whom itmay concern Be it known that I, CARL Jorrnson, a citizen of the United States, and a res1- dent of Goldfield, in the county of Esmeralda and State of Nevada, have invented a new and Improved WVinding Device for Drop-Lights, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to extension or drop lights for electric fixtures, and deals more especially with improvements in the construction of a winding mechanism for the flexible electric cord.

The invention has for its general object to improve or simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of the character referred to so as to be reliable and efficient in use, comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and so designed as to be easily and quickly manipulated for adjusting the light to any desired position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel form of winding drum on which the flexible conductor is wound and unwound, and a novel arrangement of brake and stop means whereby the drum can be controlled or held in opposition to the winding spring of the drum.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and effective guiding means in the bottom of the casing or housing of the device, which guiding means is located directly under the axis of the drum whereby the winding and unwinding of the cord takes place without any lateral thrust on the device, which feature is especially advantageous where the winding device is applied to a chandelier.

With such objects in view and others as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as will appear hereinafter and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates an embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters are employed to designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the casing device showing the internal mechanism in elevation; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the drum locking means; Fig. 4 is an elevation of a chandelier having the winding device applied thereto.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the casing, of any suitable design, which incloses the winding mechanism and which has at its bottom an opening 1 out of which the cord conductor 2 for the electric lamp extends, and passing through the top of the casing are conductors 3 and 4 which are connected with a socket plug 5 whereby the device can be connected with an ordinary electric light socket and depend therefrom.

Vithin the casing A is a vertically extending approximately rectangular frame B which has its side members provided with central ofisets 6, and niounted'in these offsets is a horizontal shaft 7 to which is fastened a drum 8. Also fastened to this shaft is a coiled spring 9 disposed in one of the offsets of the frame B and rigidly fastened to the frame by a bolt or equivalent means 10, the spring being so arranged as to tend to turn the drum 8 in a direction to wind the flexible conductor 2 thereon. The two wires 11 and 12 that form the flexible cord or conductor extend out of the peripheral groove 13 by extending through openings in the flanges 14 and 15 of the drum adjacent the center thereof and the ends of the wires are connected by fastenings 14 and 15 with metal collector rings 14", 15 which are fastened to but insulated from the shaft 7 and brushes 14 and 15 bear respectively on the said collector rings so that the cord conductor 2 will be connected in circuit with the supply system. The brushes 14 and 15 are fastened to brackets 16 and 17, respectively, which are rigidly secured to the frame B. The wires 3 and 4 are connected respectively with the brushes 14, 15 so that the said brushes will be connected with the supply system.

The drum 8 has its flanges 14 and 15 spaced just far enough apart to accommodate the flexible conductor 2 so that the turn and convolutions wound on the drum will be in a single plane or in one-layer, which has the advantage that the cord can wind and unwind without undue friction or wear and without any danger of binding. A brake device is used in connection with the drum so as to prevent the drum from acquiring too rapid winding motion. This brake device consists of a spring 18 fastened at the top of the frame B and arranged to bear on the periphery of the flange 14, which, if desired, may be provided with notches or recesses 19, so that the free end of the brake spring can enter any one of these notches and arrest or retard the movement of the drum or increase the brake eflect. Cooperating with the other flange 15 is a positive locking device which is in the form of a lever 20 pivoted at 21 on the frame B adjacent the bottom thereof. This lever has pull cords 22 and 23 attached to the opposite ends so that the lever can be thrown into and out of locking engagement with the drum. The flange 15 has in its periphery a series of notches 24 into any one of which the lateral extension 20 of the lever 20 is adapted to engage, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The lever has at its pivot two angularly disposed surfaces 25 and 26, and a spring 27 fastened on the frame B is adapted to engage either one of these surfaces for holding the lever in looking or unlocking position with no possibility of assuming an intermediate position. This spring yields when the lever is positively moved by either pull cord 22 or 23, and after the lever has assumed extreme position it is maintained therein by the spring engaging either the surface 25 or 26.

The conductor 2 is guided in and out of the casing A in such a manner that a lateral thrust on the device is prevented. This guiding means comprises a grooved roller 28 mounted in the bottom of the casing and at the opening 1, the axis of the roller being slightly to one side of the vertical line passing through the axis of the winding drum so that the cord 2 will be directly under the axis of the drum, as clearly shown in Fig. 2,

' whereby a pull on the cord in unwinding it .from the drum will be directly downward and under the point of suspension of the device.

In Fig. 4 the winding device is inc'losed in a casing C which forms a part of the chandelier D, which latter may be of any approved construction, and out of the bottom of the casing extends the cord conductor 2 that supports a lamp Z.

In using the device the cord 23 is first pulled so as to release the locking lever 20 from the drum, and then the lamp is pulled downwardly to the desired point. The user then pulls the cord 22 which restores the lever 20 to locking position so that the lamp will be held in the position to which it has been adjusted. To allow the lamp cord to wind, the operator pulls on the cord 23 so as to release the lever or dog 20 and the drum then turns by reason of the tension on the spring 9 so that the cord will wind on the drum, which is prevented from having a rapid movement by the brake 18.

In the foregoing description taken in con- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing th WashingtomnG.

nection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire it to be understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a drum pivotally mounted therein and including peripheral flanges, a cord conductor connected with the drum and adapted to wind in the space between the flanges, collector rings on the drum, brushes bearing on the collector rings, means for connecting the brushes with a current supply circuit, a brake device bearing on one of the flanges to retard the winding means of the drum, a locking device arranged to engage the other flange of the drum, means for holding the locking device in either looking or unlocking position, an operating means connected with the locking device, and a spring connected with the drum for turning the same in a direction to wind the cord conductor.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a drum pivotally mounted therein and including peripheral flanges, a cord conductor connected with the drum and adapted to wind in the space between the flanges, collector rings on the drum, brushes bearing on the collector rings, means for connecting the brushes withacurrent supply circuit,a brake device bearing on one of the flanges to retard the winding means of the drum, a locking device arranged to engage the other flange of the drum, means for holding the locking device in either locking or unlocking position, an operating means connected with the said locking device, a spring connected with the drum for turning the same in a direction to wind the cord conductor, and guiding means arranged on the frame at a point directly under the axis of the drum to guide the conductor as it winds and unwinds.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y CARL V. JOHNSON.

W'itnesses:

MAY JoHNsoN, M. H. DANNENBERG.

e Commissioner of Patents, 

